The good kind of responsibility

“Who’s responsible for this mess?”

That’s the kind of question that sends employees running for cover. Looking for people to blame. Ways to avoid being branded as the problem-causer.

We’ve all been there, and it can be devastating. This is the kind of accountability that rips teams apart.

Why? Because, by asking the question, we’ve established:

• It’s a significant problem, a “mess.”
• Somebody has to be held accountable.
• The tone of voice likely conveys that there are going to be painful consequences for failure, even just “blame and shame.”

Nobody…